Cleaning apparatus



Jan. 19, 1954 F. NICOLLINS CLEANING APPARATUS Filed oct. 19, 1950 INVENTOR.

A frog/vi) Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE,

Francis N. Collins, Washington, D. C. Application October 19, 1950 Serial No. 190,896

This invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and has relation more particularly to an apparatus of this kind especially designed for cleaning parts of motor vehicles or the like, such as carburetors, fuel pumps, generators, starters, distributors, etc., which, when initially handled by a repairman, carry foreign matter which should be removed before such parts are again used.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind embodying a container for a cleaning fluid in which the parts to be cleaned are submerged, together with means for agitating the fluid in the container in a manner to assure an effective cleaning operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind which may be employed with equal facility either to clean, rinse, or dry the desired parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind including a-container .for a fluid in which the parts are to be submerged together with a basket removably received within the container and in which the parts are directly placed and wherein means are provided for agitating the fluid in the container and particularly to create an upsurge of the fluid through thebasket to facilitate the action of the fluid on the parts within the basket.

The invention consists in the detailsof construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cleaning apparatus whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully setv forth. 7

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken radially through a machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, with parts in elevation;

2 Claims. (Cl. 134-188) Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantiab;

1y on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In' the embodiment of the invention as il1us-:.

trated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, C denotes a container of predetermined dimensions and capacity having depending therefrom the supporting legs I. The top of the conbottom closing wall 2, the side wall 3 of the container is provided with a drain opening 4 normally closed by a removable plug 5 or otherwise as may be preferred.

At a point above and in relatively close proximity to the bottom wall 2, the side wall 3 of the container C is provided with a surrounding and inwardly disposed ledge 6 upon which freely rests from above the marginal portion of a plate 7. This plate extends entirely across the interior of the container C and in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the con- L tainer C.

The plate 1 has extending upwardly therefrom a plurality of substantially semi-spherical bosses or bafiles 8 herein disclosed as two in number and aligned radially of the plate 1. The base or large diameter of each of these bosses or bafiles 8 is material and in the present embodiment of the invention the bosses or baflles 8 are hollow to reduce weight with the walls thereof open at both ends. The outer side or peripheral( wall It), the inner wall II and the bottom wall I2 of the basket B are all of a reticulated fabric of requisite gauge and strength and the two walls 10 and II are of the same height and have their top edges in a common horizontal plane. The bottom wall I2 has depending therefrom the suitably positioned supporting legs M which have direct contact from above with the plate 7 and are of such length asto hold the basket B at an effective-elevation above the plate 1. The basket 13 is also of a height to terminate within the upper portion of 'the container C but at a distance'pronouncedly below the open top of the container C.

Detachably mounted on the top of the container C is a cover M including a head plate [5 'ing contac't' with the upper portion'of the side or peripheral wall 3 of the container C. Snugly fitting within and suitably adjacent to the outer ft'ainer C is open gnu closely adjacent'to the; or free marginal portions of the flange IGof the cover M, is a plate I! provided with the openings [8. The flange H3 at desired spaced points therearound also is provided with the openings I9.

The head plate l5 and the plate [1, at substantially the axial centers thereof, are provided with the bearings through which extends the shaft 2 I. This shaft 2| extends downwardly beyond the plate I! and is of a length to extend into the passageway A of the basket B when the cover member 1 M is; inapplied position" upon :the econtainer C; Radiating from and extending lengthwise of the lower portion of the shaft 2! are the substantially flat blades 22 which extend a major distance through the length of the passageway? A but are entirely housed therein when the cover member M is in applied working positidmwith respect to the container C Fixed to the shaft 2| for rotation therewith and radiating therefrom are the fan-' b1ades 23-20 of desired pitch. Theserblades 23 are carried by the, shaft 12] just JllQlOWlthE P18138111 .andzliecbetween the latter: :andrthe depict the appliedtbasket Ba /hen; the cover member-M in :place nJthe container C.

While various, :means may ,be zempldyedifdr .rotatingthe shaft ,2 I inzdesinededireetionaandc'at a preferred speeds in the first: embodiment; 'ofathe invention,thesportionzof. ,the. shaft 2 I. betweenzthe head plate J 5 and the internal plate 1 H has. fixed th reto and radiating therefrom. the fl t la s 24; whichare adapted to he impactedlby :a stream of :air or the; likeuunder pressure selectively discharged from either of the substantiallyi'opposed nozzles 25 carried by. andextendirigeth'rqugh .the side :flanee 201?. wall; It ;the-. cdver: member: M. 1. Thenozzles;have leading.fromtheouterapertions the hose linesgz 6.:for bonnegtiohszwithrasuitable source of air .or the like: underzpressurea. ArYHIlVB- 2 is in erposed inweach 10f: th'e'y'linesi for shutting fi th fflow 10f;- the; :;ai:r;.or.: the: like: therethrough when; i vi udesired to cutoff the. tstreamatot air r:.-th.e..like from the associated nozzle-25x.

In he embodimentof the. invention illustrated LF ulm 3 .;of:. :the; ;drawings: athe :centr'ally arranged shaft ztzcarried byxthercoyeraorr lidamem-. ber L extends outwardly beyond. theeheaduplate .2 gir h? OYfir-sonlid L Iandis operatively 1 engaged w th anelectric. motorEimountedmn head plate 2&1,exteriorly ,of ;the 'LGOYGI" ore-lid member 50 L and adapted; for electrical; connectionizwittma action the baffles or bosses will causeE-themuidci to 1 have an upsurge-whereby is materiallyincreased the:cleaning =action ofthe' fluid on'the parts within th'e basket B. H

The blades 23j-rotatingwiththeishaftrzl, facilitate the passageof the fun1 es from the fluid within the containerC' passing up through the openings --l the plate" I I andout through the r openings I 9:

It has aise loeerrfound1w-practicethat the fluid in the container as a result of the upsurge of the fluid will strike the blades 23 and thereby provide additional means for rotating the shaft 2|.

After the cleansing operation is completed, the basket B is removed and placed in a second container in the same manner as in the container C. This second container is properly filled with clear water so that the parts in the basket B may be thoroughly rinsed. The cover member M may betreadily.v transferred to the; second container.

After therinsing operation thebasket B is removed from the second container and placed within a third container to which the cover memben: 1 may also be readily transferred. This thirdcontainer is free of fluid so that as the shaft z-f is rotated, the blades 23 will effect a circulation of'air through the basket B to dry the parts therein.

To facilitate the desired handling of the hasket B, the same is herein disclosed as having Qperativelyengaged' therewith a bail -3 0 although any other desired means may be employed.

From-zthe foregoing description" it is thought to he; obvious "that a Y cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with my :inventionis particularly;well==adapted for use byreason of the convenience and facility with which 'it may 'be assembled and operated.-

I claim:

1 In -a cleaningapparatus, a cylindrical liquid receptacle havinganopen 1 top; a fiat perforated ilosure for the open top, an annular reticulated container supported-in centered relation within 35 -;s.a;id 1 receptacle, a :cylind-rical co'versecured -'in spaced overlying relation on said'closure bearings; mounted in the centers of "the top .walls of the closure 1 and said cover; .a shaft depending through said bearings and extendingtdownwardly within the open center of saidco'ntainenblades -I,,IIOunted on that-portion of said shaft within the said: iopencenten for circulating: :the liquid 1 radially within said :container, other blades mounted on said shaft'immediatelyhbelow said closure for ;.exhausting1fumes from above the level of the liquid: out through the -per-fo rations' in the closure; still other blades mounted on "said shaft between the closure and said cover; openings in the sidewall of said cover, and means for imparting-1erotaryv motion tosaid shaft, said-fumes b.eing,.-exhausted outwardly ofthe-said last named QPQnings ;'to atmospherebyzth'e action of the last named-blades; I

2.:The: cleaning apparatus as defined in cl'aim ;I1 with the said means comprising-nozzles projecting tangentially to circles concentricallyfi'nward off the-'said 'last named -opening's of said cover fordischarging a fluid pressure'ag'ainst the last named 1blades', the-'spent fluid pressure exhausting, along with the said fumesp 'outwar'dly ofsaid last named-openings by the action of' the latter blades FRANCIS-NrCOLL-INS.

thezfiuidwithin theicontainerz'andzduringthis 53- Number I Name, Date agape nel'vitd Mar; '3, 1908 1,390,223 Wolcott Sept. 6, "1921 1; 518584 Cooley Dec. 9, 1924 1,55118'84 James at a se' t .'1, 1925 1 ;63Oi68 -Woodward ay-3'1, [1927 1.927943 Lon 's. Sept." 26;"1933 

